Security Council strongly condemns terrorist attack in Algeria

The Security Council has strongly condemned what it has described as "heinous" terrorist attacks in Algeria which have killed and injured a number of people.

The Council statement comes at the end of the four-day siege of a gas facility near the desert town of Amenas where terrorists had been holding hostages from eight countries.

The crisis ended on Sunday when Algerian troops stormed and recaptured the site from the militants.

Pakistan holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council for the month of January. The country's Foreign Secretary Jalil Abbas Jilani read the statement as the Council began its meeting on Monday.

"We condemn in the strongest terms the terrorist attack in Algeria, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries. We join others in expressing our deep sympathy and sincere condolences to the victims of these heinous acts and their families and to the people and the Governments of Algeria and those countries whose nationals have been affected." (21")

According to reports the death toll from the hostage crisis now stands at 57, including at least nine Japanese people.